Hard-Working Deric Davis Aiming to Follow Path of Tank Davis

Deric Davis witnessed the rise of Gervonta “Tank” Davis from gyms in Washington, D.C., to main-event stages in Las Vegas, which showed the youngster that his own dreams of becoming a pay-per-view star are possible.

Davis is set to fight Friday at the Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington, D.C., in a card broadcast on ProBox TV.

Davis (3-0, 3 KOs), 21, of Fort Washington, Maryland, saw the ascent of Baltimore’s self-styled “face of boxing,” and although he doesn’t want to copy it, Davis would love to follow a similar path to glory. He hopes Friday’s fight is a step toward the top.

“He was a young kid trying to strive before he went to go spar with Floyd [Mayweather] up there in the Vegas gym,” Deric Davis said of Gervonta Davis. “He was training with us. The next thing I know, he’s riding with Floyd, he’s knocking people out, he’s on TV. So it was definitely a motivation.”

Davis remarked how Tank’s success showed that hard work can create the opportunities he is waiting for himself.

“It just let me know that somebody from my area really can make it,” Davis said. “If you really buckle down and lock into what you do and hone your craft, you can make it.”

Davis also credits his father, who shares his first name but has a different middle name (meaning Davis is not a junior). His father’s influence has played a vital role in his development, from practicing interviews with him before the age of 10 to overseeing intense roadwork. Davis, known as “Scooter,” spoke about the man who is also his manager and best friend.

“At the beginning, he gave me tough love,” Davis said of his father. “I didn’t understand it. I would be coming from practice and then have to go run the horse track. It’s 9 or 10 o’clock at night, it’s dark as heck and I’m running a horse track, getting extra miles in. I thought he was just mean, making me get up Saturday mornings and do all this stuff.”

Davis sees that as the groundwork for his success.

“Now I understand the foundation he laid for me,” Davis said. “I’m not a lazy worker. When it comes to work, I’m going to do it, no matter the avenue – whether it’s working out, paperwork or on the computer. I’m not allergic to work.”